Bicycle manufacturer William Morris took the oft-trod path into building cars in 1913, with his Oxford and Cowleys becoming the best-selling cars of the 1920s, and the Eight repeating the same trick the next decade. In 1948, Morris launched one of the enduring British greats, the Minor, which would continue until 1971.

As part of the Nuffield Group, Morris became a major part of the British Motor Corporation in 1952, although many vehicles which carried its badging also shared the same body and mechanics with other BMC members. Under British Leyland, from 1968, Morris’ main model was the Marina which evolved into the Ital in 1981, three years before Morris was discontinued as a marque.